Top Child Actor Career Changes
Growing up with movies and TV shows means growing up with the young faces that defined them. Some of those child stars seemed destined for lifelong fame — yet many eventually stepped away from Hollywood entirely. Some traded the spotlight for quieter, more grounded careers. Others reinvented themselves in surprising, ambitious ways.
This article explores some of the most interesting and unexpected career changes among former child actors who left acting behind for good.
Why Child Stars Change Careers
Being a child actor can be exciting, but it also comes with pressure, scrutiny, and a lifestyle that doesn’t always translate well into adulthood. Many young performers struggle to transition into adult roles, while others simply outgrow the industry and crave a more private, stable life.
Some former child stars say they wanted to be recognized for who they are — not for a character they played decades ago. Others discovered new passions, new talents, or new goals that had nothing to do with entertainment. With social media, podcasts, and interviews offering more transparency than ever, fans now get a clearer look at why so many young actors choose a different path.
Well‑Known Child Actors Who Chose Different Careers
Mara Wilson
Best known for Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, Mara stepped away from acting to become a full‑time writer and mental‑health advocate. She has published books and contributes essays to major outlets.
Shirley Temple
One of Hollywood’s most iconic child stars, Shirley Temple left acting as a teen and went on to serve as a U.S. ambassador, representing the country in Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
Peter Ostrum
After starring as Charlie Bucket in the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Peter chose veterinary medicine. He has spent decades working with livestock in rural New York.
Jeff Cohen
Known as Chunk from The Goonies, Jeff left acting, studied law, and is now a successful entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles.
Lark Voorhies
The Saved by the Bell star shifted her focus to writing, publishing novels and poetry collections.
Michael Maronna
The redheaded star of Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete became a professional electrician, working on film sets and music tours.
Barret Oliver
After The NeverEnding Story, Barret pursued photography, specializing in historic printing techniques. His work has appeared in galleries and publications.
Beverly Cleary
Before becoming one of America’s most beloved children’s authors, Beverly Cleary was a child radio performer.
Charlie Korsmo
Known for roles in Dick Tracy and Hook, Charlie left acting to study law. He is now a law professor.
Recent and Lesser‑Known Actors Who Switched Gears
Ariana Richards
After Jurassic Park, Ariana became a professional visual artist, focusing on landscapes and portraits.
Josh Saviano
Paul from The Wonder Years grew up to become a corporate lawyer.
Mackenzie Rosman
The 7th Heaven actress moved into animal advocacy, business ventures, and equestrian work.
Mary‑Kate & Ashley Olsen
The twins behind Full House left acting to build a luxury fashion empire with their award‑winning brand, The Row.
Kel Mitchell
While still active in entertainment, Kel shifted his focus to youth work, faith‑based outreach, and motivational speaking.
Andrea Barber
After Full House, Andrea pursued degrees in English and Women’s Studies and worked in academia before returning briefly for Fuller House.
Taran Noah Smith
The youngest sibling from Home Improvement left acting to launch a vegan food company and later worked in construction and tech.
Frankie Muniz
The Malcolm in the Middle star became a professional race car driver and later a small‑business owner.
Common Paths After Child Stardom
Former child actors often gravitate toward careers that offer more privacy, stability, or creative freedom. Some of the most common new paths include:
- Medicine & Healthcare — from veterinary work to neuroscience
- Writing & Journalism — books, essays, poetry
- Law & Legal Professions — entertainment law, corporate law, academia
- Visual & Performing Arts — painting, photography, design
- Entrepreneurship — food companies, fashion labels, tech startups
- Education & Academia — teaching, counseling, research
These careers allow former actors to build new identities beyond the roles that made them famous.
Things to Consider for Kids in Show Business
Acting can be a rewarding experience for children, but long‑term planning is essential. Families must consider education, finances, and emotional well‑being. Laws like the Coogan Act help protect young performers’ earnings, while support groups and career counselors guide them through transitions.
Balancing work and school is a recurring theme in interviews with former child stars. Many say that having mentors and supportive adults made all the difference.
Challenges When Making the Leap
Leaving the spotlight isn’t always easy. Former child actors may face:
- Difficulty adjusting to “normal” jobs
- Recognition from fans when they want privacy
- Identity struggles after years of being known for a single role
- Skepticism from employers
- Pressure to reinvent themselves
Still, many describe the transition as liberating — a chance to rediscover who they are outside of Hollywood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do so many child actors leave Hollywood? Burnout, privacy concerns, new interests, or the desire for a more stable career.
Do any child actors return to acting? Yes — some do. Andrea Barber is one example, returning for Fuller House after years away.
Is having a backup plan common? More than ever. Families today are encouraged to prioritize education and alternative career paths early on.
Final Thoughts
There’s no single path after childhood fame. Many former child actors build meaningful, successful lives far from the Hollywood spotlight. Their stories show that early fame doesn’t define a lifetime — and that reinvention can lead to purpose, happiness, and entirely new adventures.
a lot of young faces that seemed destined for lifelong fame. But for many of these former child stars, acting wasn’t their forever plan. Several have moved on to entirely new careers outside show business, taking on everything from medical work to writing, teaching, and even running businesses. Some names made a big splash in their new fields. Others stepped quietly into everyday jobs most people wouldn’t expect. I’ve rounded up some of the most interesting career changes among famous and recent child actors who left acting behind for good.
Why Child Stars Change Careers
Being a child actor comes with a lot of attention and pressure. Even beloved child stars can struggle to break into adult roles or keep up with the stress of fame. Some decide early on that the spotlight just isn’t their scene, while others outgrow acting and find themselves drawn to totally different areas. Lots of them talk about wanting “normal” lives, careers where they’re recognized for their skills rather than the parts they played decades ago.
As much as some actors love performing, others find more satisfaction away from scripts and sets. Some go into creative fields that still use the skills they picked up as actors, while others choose careers that are completely unrelated to entertainment. The world has seen more and more successful transitions, especially with social media making it easy for fans to keep track of these interesting life changes. Now, with the rise of podcasts and YouTube interviews, many former child stars openly share their reasons for stepping away, opening up about the unique challenges and rewards they’ve experienced in their new roles.
Well-Known Child Actors Who Chose Different Careers
Some child actors stepped away from Hollywood when it was at their feet and went on to build brand new lives. Here are a few who made noteworthy changes:
- Mara Wilson: Best known as Matilda and the youngest daughter in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” Mara switched gears to become a full-time writer, playwright, and mental health advocate. She’s authored books and regularly contributes essays to major publications.
- Shirley Temple: One of the biggest child stars ever, Shirley left acting as a teen. She went on to become a U.S. ambassador and held several diplomatic posts for decades, representing the United States in Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
- Peter Ostrum: Charlie Bucket in the original “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” traded acting for veterinary medicine. For years, he has worked as a veterinarian in rural New York, specializing in livestock care.
- Jeff Cohen: Chunk from “The Goonies” stepped away from acting after his successful child career. He studied law and now works as an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles.
- Lark Voorhies: Known for her role as Lisa Turtle on “Saved by the Bell,” Lark shifted her focus to writing, with novels and poetry collections credited to her name. She left acting to concentrate on her creative pursuits off camera.
- Michael Maronna: The redheaded star of Nickelodeon’s “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” swapped Hollywood for work behind the scenes, becoming a professional electrician on film sets and music tours.
- Barret Oliver: Bastian Balthazar Bux from “The NeverEnding Story” quit acting to focus on photography, especially historic photo printing techniques. His work has been showcased in galleries and publications.
- Beverly Cleary (as a child radio performer): Though not a film actor, she was a child voice on local radio and left performing to become one of America’s most celebrated children’s book authors.
- Charlie Korsmo: As the quirky kid in “Dick Tracy” and “Hook,” Charlie pursued law, graduated from Yale, and is now a law professor.
Recent and Lesser Known Actors Who Switched Gears
Even actors from more recent years or those who didn’t stay as long in the spotlight have found satisfaction outside showbiz:
- Ariana Richards: After starring in “Jurassic Park,” Ariana left acting to study art. These days, she’s known as an accomplished visual artist, focusing mainly on landscapes and portraits. She occasionally attends fan conventions, but her main dedication is to painting and artistic exhibitions.
- Josh Saviano: Famous as Paul on “The Wonder Years,” Josh became a corporate lawyer and rarely appears at entertainment industry events.
- Mackenzie Rosman: She appeared as Ruthie Camden on “7th Heaven” and later turned her attention to animal advocacy and business ventures outside acting. Mackenzie has also been involved in equestrian activities and charitable organizations.
- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Known for “Full House” and their tons of movies as kids and teens, both twins left acting behind for careers in high fashion, cofounding the luxury label The Row. Their label has earned many awards, and they are known for keeping a low profile in the public eye since leaving acting.
- Kel Mitchell: While Kel still appears in entertainment, his primary focus shifted to working with youth groups and religious organizations, stepping back from acting’s demands. He has also taken on motivational speaking and community outreach work.
- Andrea Barber: After “Full House,” Andrea left Hollywood for many years to earn degrees in English and Women’s Studies and work in academia before returning for the “Fuller House” sequel.
- Taran Noah Smith: Youngest sibling Mark from “Home Improvement” walked away after the show wrapped. He went on to open a vegan food company and works in the construction and tech space.
- Frankie Muniz: Main man in “Malcolm in the Middle,” he switched to a professional car racing career for several years before also getting involved in business ventures, such as owning an olive oil shop and a small business in Arizona.
Common Paths After Child Stardom
Actors who grow up in the entertainment world often look for jobs where they have more privacy or control. The most common new career routes for former child stars include:
- Medicine and Healthcare: Some, like Peter Ostrum, pursue animal or human medicine, working as doctors, nurses, or therapists. For example, Mayim Bialik, although not quitting acting entirely, earned a PhD in neuroscience after her child star years.
- Writing and Journalism: Former child actors like Mara Wilson and Lark Voorhies have authored books, essays, or poetry.
- Law and Legal Professions: Both Josh Saviano and Jeff Cohen used experiences in Hollywood to become successful lawyers.
- Visual and Performing Arts: Ariana Richards focuses on painting; Barret Oliver uses photography as a form of creative expression.
- Entrepreneurship: Taran Noah Smith and the Olsen twins dove into business, using their childhood fame to support new ventures. Many former stars have launched their own clothing lines, restaurants, or tech startups over the years.
- Education and Academia: Charlie Korsmo teaches law, and Andrea Barber took up work in education before returning to acting for a short stint. Some others became teachers, counselors, or educational advocates, helping young people build confidence and skills for life outside the spotlight.
Things to Consider for Kids in Show Business
Acting can be a fun experience for kids, but planning for the long term is really important. Some child stars manage to adapt and stay in the entertainment industry, but it’s not always an easy road. Young actors and their families should think about education, finances, and what their lives might look like after the spotlight fades. Having mentors and adult supporters can help them find new directions if they decide acting isn’t the right fit long term.
Many organizations, like the Coogan Law in California, were created to help protect young performers’ earnings. Support groups and career counselors are also pretty handy for helping former child stars track down their next passion, whether it’s art, science, or just a regular nine to five job. Families today are encouraged to keep an eye out for signs of stress or burnout among child actors, making sure to prioritize wellbeing alongside opportunities. Balancing work and education has been a recurring theme in interviews with former child stars reflecting on their lives today.
Challenges When Making the Leap
Stepping out of the public eye isn’t always simple. Some former stars struggle to adjust to “normal” jobs, sometimes facing skepticism from employers or being recognized by fans when they’d prefer anonymity. Changes in personal identity, privacy, and self-worth are common, and being patient with the process can make all the difference. Some go through tough periods of transition, but others find it liberating to focus on new goals. Others have said that switching to a different routine provided relief from relentless media attention, and gave them a whole new appreciation for privacy. Moving past childhood stardom is a delicate process that can be both challenging and rewarding, depending on the support network in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do so many child actors leave Hollywood?
Many say they were burned out, wanted privacy, or found acting less enjoyable as they grew up. Others just track down new interests or want more stable careers.
Do any child actors go back to acting later?
Yes, some do return, but many move on for good and rarely appear on screen as adults. Andrea Barber is one who made a comeback for a sequel show after years away.
Is having a backup plan common for child actors?
These days, families and young actors are encouraged to think about education and nonacting jobs early on, just in case they want to try something else later.
Final Thoughts on Career Changes
There’s no single way forward for child actors after the credits roll. I’ve seen how some make inspiring moves, showing how skills built in one field can create new opportunities somewhere totally different. While the stories of child actors leaving showbiz are varied, they all share proof that changing careers can lead to happiness, purpose, and success far from the Hollywood lights. The new careers these actors choose often reflect personal growth, evolving passions, and practical needs that come with adulthood.
If you’re interested in learning more, sites like IMDb and news outlets like CNN often feature updates on where your favorite child stars are now. Careful research helps fans and families better understand the choices former child stars make and the paths available outside the entertainment world. Keeping up with these stories can be a fun way to see how familiar faces from TV and film make a mark beyond the Hollywood stage, turning early fame into lifelong adventure in many different fields.